What makes hair grow?
Updated on , validated by our team of René Furterer experts.
Effectively treating hair loss requires more than just slowing it down. To restore thick, healthy hair, it’s essential to reactivate growth by stimulating the hair follicles.
Two complementary and inseparable actions are at the heart of an effective anti-hair loss strategy:
- Slow down hair loss by targeting its causes (stress, deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, etc.)
- Stimulate the growth of new, stronger, and better anchored hair.
It is this dual action—prevention and stimulation—that gradually restores the density and quality of the hair. Targeted hair care, proven active ingredients, appropriate techniques, dietary supplements… Everything counts in rebuilding the hair cycle.
The hair life cycle and its phases
Did you know that each strand of hair you lose is part of a natural cycle? The hair life cycle consists of three phases that repeat continuously, day after day.
- Anagen phase (growth): this is the longest phase, lasting between 2 and 7 years. The hair follicle is fully active, actively producing a growing hair strand.
- Catagen phase (transition): a short period of a few weeks during which growth slows down. The follicle shrinks and prepares for the hair to fall out.
- Telogen phase (resting and shedding): the hair stops all activity and eventually falls out naturally, giving way to a new cycle.
This process is completely natural: on average, we lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. However, an imbalance between these phases may indicate a hair disorder.
What factors influence hair growth?
Hair growth is not determined by genetics alone. Many internal and external factors can influence its life cycle and overall health.
Among the most common are:
- Diet: iron, zinc, vitamin B, or protein deficiencies can slow down growth.
- Stress and hormonal imbalances: during periods of intense or prolonged stress, the body produces more cortisol, which can disrupt the hair cycle and lead to temporary shedding. Similarly, certain hormonal disorders, such as thyroid imbalance, can indirectly affect hair health and contribute to more diffuse hair loss.
- Age: with age, the hair cycle naturally slows down.
- Hair care: harsh products, excessive heat and frequent manipulation weaken the hair fiber and irritate the scalp.
- Lifestyle: smoking, pollution and lack of sleep also affect hair health.
Taking care of your hair with an effective routine tailored to your scalp is the best way to support healthy, long-lasting growth.
So, how can you make your hair grow?
Hair loss can have several causes: stress, nutritional or vitamin deficiencies, hormones, or unsuitable hair care products. Today, a wide range of natural and targeted solutions exist to stimulate regrowth.
The René Furterer brand relies on a range of natural active ingredients that effectively stimulate hair growth. Selected for their targeted effectiveness, these ingredients act directly on the scalp and hair bulb to promote faster, denser, and longer-lasting regrowth.
René Furterer: the hair regrowth specialist
For many years, René Furterer has been a leader in adressing hair loss. It has held the number one spot in pharmacy hair-loss product sales for 21 years.
One of its credos: How can we slow down hair loss and make hair grow faster?
Discover your type of hair loss
Active ingredients used by René Furterer to promote hair regrowth
Today, natural and effective solutions exist to promote hair growth.
René Furterer uses seven natural ingredients to develop its hair loss treatments and dietary supplements. The brand offers personalized solutions tailored to each individual's needs and specific conditions.
The effectiveness of these natural active ingredients in promoting hair growth has been widely proven and verified by users.
Propolis: pro-keratin technology to boost hair growth
Propolis, a natural active ingredient rigorously selected by René Furterer Research, effectively combats reactive hair loss thanks to its dual action. It reactivates growth by naturally stimulating the hair cycle while strengthening the fiber as soon as it forms. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to boost the production of keratin 85, the main protein in hair.
Present in over 85% of the hair fiber, Keratin 85 is the essential structural component that gives hair its strength, resistance and suppleness. Using an exclusive measurement model developed by our laboratories, René Furterer Laboratories have developed Propolis K85TM, which has been shown to double the production of Keratin 85*.
The result: stronger, thicker, visibly healthier hair. At the same time, propolis acts as a natural shield: its soothing, purifying, and antioxidant properties help restore a healthy scalp environment, which is essential in slowing hair loss linked to stress, fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, or postpartum changes.
*Tested in vitro & ex vivo.
Lotus Mineral Complex™
Lotus Mineral Complex™ is a natural active ingredient. It is a combination of magnesium salt and L-Pyrrolidone acid. It is used to counteract the harmful effects of cellular stress. It protects the scalp and slows down hair loss linked to stress, fatigue, illness…
This makes it a particularly effective active ingredient in the fight against reactive hair loss.
Biotrinine: a 360° active ingredient
Biotrinine is a naturally sourced active ingredient. It is obtained through the aqueous extraction of the aerial parts of watercress (Nasturtium officinal) and nasturtium (Trapaeolum majus).
Biotrinine was chosen by René Furterer for its ability to act at every stage of the hair's life cycle*. It plays a role in helping to slow down progressive hair loss.
It has a triple action:
- Activating the signal necessary for hair growth at the birth stage*.
- Stimulating and prolonging growth to visibly redensify the hair*.
- Extending the hair’s maturity phase to delay shedding and preserve long-term density*.
*In vitro test on the active ingredient
Natural pfaffia extrac
Native to the Amazon, pfaffia is undoubtedly the most iconic plant in the region. Known as “Brazilian ginseng”, it strengthens the internal organs while calming the nervous system and relieving anxiety.
René Furterer uses its remarkable revitalizing properties in all its anti-hair loss products. Combined with a scalp massage, it stimulates microcirculation in the scalp. This maximizes the supply of nutrients and energy to the hair follicles, which is essential for optimal hair growth.
This active ingredient* comes from a Fair For Life-certified fair trade supply chain that supports small organic producers in Paraná, Brazil. René Furterer is also committed to preserving the rainforest by fighting local deforestation.
*Active ingredient tested in vitro
Natural mangosteen extract
Mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostana), sourced from an ethical Fair For Life supply chain and nicknamed the “fruit of the gods” is a tropical “superfruit” native to Southeast Asia. Its purple rind is known in traditional Asian medicine for its exceptional antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties.
It is in this shell, known as the pericarp, that we find a natural source of active ingredients called xanthones, including alpha mangosteen. Pierre Fabre Laboratories manufacture mangosteen extract in Gaillac, in the Tarn region of France, which is the key ingredient in the effectiveness of the Triphasic Progressive formula.
Hydrolysed curbicia extract
Curbicia is a valuable ally in promoting hair regrowth, especially in cases of progressive hair loss and on scalps suffocated by hyperseborrhea, i.e., excessivesebum production. This imbalance makes the scalp oilier, disrupts oxygenation, and can hinder hair growth by clogging the hair follicles.
Curbicia is a 100% natural extract obtained by hydrolyzing pumpkin seeds (cucurbita pepo). This plant-based active ingredient was selected by René Furterer for its regulating action on oily scalps.
Thanks to its sebum-reducing properties, curbicia extract helps rebalance sebum production without irritating the skin. It deeply purifies the scalp, limits hair follicle blockage and creates an environment conducive to healthy hair growth.
Hair grows faster, stronger, and healthier, and the hair fiber is more resilient.
ATP: an innovative active ingredient
ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is an active ingredient naturally produced by the body. It is an essential source of energy, as it is the only “fuel” that cells can use directly.
René Furterer research has uncovered the incredible properties of ATP on follicular papilla cells.
It helps quickly restart hair growth:
- In progressive hair loss by acting as an early energy signal.
- In reactive hair loss by acting on the induction of the anagen phase.
Highly effective for all types of hair loss, this active ingredient* is therefore included in both René Furterer anti-hair loss treatments.
*Active ingredient tested in vitro
Debunking common myths about hair growth
Hair grows faster if you cut it regularly
Many people believe that trimming the ends stimulates hair growth. In reality, cutting has no direct effect on the speed of growth, which depends on the activity of the hair follicle, located under the skin. However, removing split or damaged ends helps prevent breakage. When hair is very fragile, it breaks at the ends, giving the impression that it is no longer growing. Regular trims therefore help to maintain stronger, healthier, and visibly longer hair over time.
Washing your hair too often slows down growth
Washing your hair regularly does not prevent it from growing. However, using a product that is too harsh or shampooing too often can weaken the scalp and hair fiber. Choose products suited to your hair type to keep it healthy and create the best environment for growth.
Stress causes hair loss
While a link between stress and hair loss does exist, it is indirect and multifactorial. Significant or prolonged stress can disrupt the body's overall balance, affect hormonal levels and cycles, or promote deficiencies... all factors that can impact the hair cycle. As a result, some hairs may enter the hair loss phase prematurely, often several weeks after the stressful event. Fortunately, this hair loss is usually temporary.
Brushing stimulates hair growth
Gentle brushing helps distribute natural oils along the lengths and stimulate blood circulation in the scalp. However, it is important to note that brushing does not make hair grow faster, and if it is too vigorous or unsuitable for your hair type, it can actually weaken the hair fiber and cause breakage.
Choose a brush with natural bristles (such as boar hair) or soft nylon bristles with rounded tips, especially if your hair is fine or fragile. These brushes are gentler on the hair fiber, detangle smoothly, and massage the scalp without causing irritation.
Does massaging your scalp really make your hair grow?
Yes! Regularly massaging your scalp is much more than just a relaxing gesture: it significantly supports hair growth. By stimulating microcirculation, massaging the scalp promotes the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles, creating an environment that is essential for hair growth. Performed for a few minutes every day, either on its own or when applying a stimulating treatment, it can enhance the effectiveness of hair loss treatments and revitalize tired roots. A simple, natural, and 100% beneficial habit for your hair.
Do certain foods really make hair grow faster?
It's a very persistent idea: eating eggs, brewer's yeast or drinking nettle juice will miraculously make your hair grow back. In reality, no food has the power to trigger hair growth on its own. However, a balanced diet, rich in protein, iron, zinc, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids, is important for supporting the hair's life cycle.
Rather than relying on a “superfood,” focus on a varied and balanced diet, and if you have any deficiencies, do not hesitate to consult a professional or take a targeted supplement, especially during periods of stress or fatigue.
Hair growth is a complex biological process shaped by internal rhythms, lifestyle, and care rituals. By understanding the hair cycle and choosing treatments with proven natural ingredients, you can restore strength, density, and vitality — rooted in science, guided by nature.
Our treatments
- Sérum accélérateur de pousse
Triphasic ACTIVE GROW
Sérum accélérateur de pousseApporte lumière et brillance - Accelerates hair growth - Masque fortifiant anti-casse
Triphasic ACTIVE GROW
Masque fortifiant anti-casseAccelerates hair growth - Detangles without weighing down - Provides strength and resistance